Radio apparatus



March 17, 1942. c. J. coLLoM v 2,276,933

' RADIO APPARATUS Filed Oct. l, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l I I N VEN TORATTHORNEYS.

March 17, 1942. c, J. -COLLOM 2,276,933

v RADIOq APPARATUS Filed Oct. l, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'I'OR I(/@Zw Jzzzzm /l'l Pl ORNIRS.

Patented Mar. 17, 1942 I PATENT OFFICE RADIO APPARATUS Cletus J. Collom,

Weltronic Corporation,

ration of Michigan Detroit, Mich., assigner to Detroit, Mich., a corpo-Application october v1, 1941, serial No. 413,111

(c1. 25o-1s) Claims.

The present invention relates to radio apparatus, and particularly to aportable, self-contained radio transmitting and receiving unit.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a small,compact, entirely self-contained unit containing apparatus fortransmitting and/or receiving radio telephone signals, and particularlyadapted for relatively short range zeld use.

More particularly, it is the object of the present /ivention to providea single unitary casing oi' onvenient form for carrying and use whichsupports a radio antenna and contains radio apparatus adapted to bothtransmit and receive radio telephone signals.

Another object or" the present invention is to provide in a device ofthe type mentioned a convenient form of extensible antenna.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide improvedcontrol means for selectively rereizing the radio apparatus as atransmitting or receiving unit at the will of the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following specication, the accompanying drawings, and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, in which-like numerals are used to designate like partsin the several views throughout:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a com- 3 plete unit, with theaerial extended;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1,showing in a diagrammatic view certain of the elements of the radioapparatus within the casing; 3

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with parts brokenaway;

Fig. 4 shows a unit similar to that illustrated in Figure 1, butequipped with a modified form of antenna; and,

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram for the alternatively operable radiotelephone transmitting and receiving apparatus contained within thecasing of the unit.

As best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2', the radio unit of the presentinvention is embodied in a unitary casing in the general form of aso-called French phone, which consists of a pair of substantiallycylindrical casings I0 and II rigidly connected by a tubular handleportion I 2. Casing I0 is closed at its ends by a pair of similarclosure caps I3 and I4, the latter having a plurality of perforationsI5, and the casing I I is similarly closed at its ends by a pair ofsimilar closure caps I 6 and I'I, the latter being provided with anopening I8 at its center.

Closure cap I4 of casing I0 carries a microphone, indicateddiagrammatically at I9, while .I closure cap I'I of casing II carries anear phone,

-the underside of the closure cap I'I, and a bridging element 25 isfastened by suitable screws 26 to the brackets 24, and bears against theback side of the ear phone 2U for holding it in position against theinner side of the closure cap.

AThe size, shape and relative location of the cylindrical casings I0 andII are such that when the handle I 2 is grasped by the hand of theoperator, the ear phone position to the ear of the operator while themicrophone I9 is simultaneously in proximity to the operators mouth, sothat he may either transmit messages by talking into the microphone orlisten to received messages without changing the position of the casing.

It will be noted that when the unit is so held in the left hand of theoperator with the ear phone 20 adjacent the operators left ear, that thepahn of the operators hand will rest against the relatively flat surfaceI2 of the tubular handle I2' with the ngers extending around the backside of the handle I2, as viewed in Figure 1, and the thumb extendingovera removable cover plate 21, which closes a correspondingly shapedopening in the front side of the handle I2, as viewed in Figure 1. Itwill be noted further that the thumb of the operator will be at theupper end of the handle I2, as viewed in Figure 1.

The radio apparatus contained Within the unit is preferably of the typewhich may be alternatively energized as either a transmitting or areceiving apparatus, and the control means for energizing the unit as awhole, as well as the means for controlling whether or not it acts as atransmitting or receiving set, are so constructed and arranged that theymay be operated by the hand or ngers of the operator which grasps handleI2 without any shift from its position as described above. f

In the preferred arrangement illustrated in the drawings, the primarycontrol element comprises 20 may be placed in juxta-v a flexible leafspring 36 secured in any suitable manner, as by a rivet 3l, to thatportion of the handle I2 embraced by the fingers of the operators hand.Leaf spring 36 in its normal position is spaced from the tubular handleI2, but is adapted to be compressed against the handle by the fingers ofthe operators hand. Spring 30 engages a plunger 32 which, in turn,carries a -V-shaped contact 34 adapted on depression to pass between andcontact the central terminals 35 and 36 of a pair of B batteries 31 and38. The circuit of the radio apparatus, as hereinafter described ingreater detail, is so arranged that the making of an electricalconnection between the terminals 35 and 36 and the casing energizes thefilament circuits of the vacuum tubes. Since the plunger 32 carryingcontact 24 is in electrical contact with the handle portion I2 of thecasing it will conduct current from the terminals 35 and 35 to thecasing when the contact engages the terminals. A helical spring 4D ispreferably provided surrounding plunger 32 between the left spring 3S!and casing I2 to assist the leaf spring in retracting the plunger.

In addition to the primary control element, there is provided a controlswitch, indicated generally at 42, within the casing I I which isadapted to selectively energize the radio circuit, either as atransmitting or receiving apparatus, in the manner indicated in greater`detail hereinafter. The switch 40 is provided with a control arm 43secured to a rotatable switch operating shaft 44. A link 45 is pivotedto the end of lever 43 at one end and is provided at its opposite endwith a portion 46 bent at right angles to the main body of the link. Thelever 43 and link 45 are preferably enclosed in an auxiliary housing,indicated generally at 41, as best shown in Figure 3, and the terminal46 of the link 45 projects through a suitable slot 48 formed in thehousing wall in a position to be engaged by the thumb on the hand of theoperator which grips the handle portion I2 of the unit without requiringthe operator to shiftthe position of his hand.

Any suitable means, such as the spring 49, is provided for holding thearm 43 and link 45 in their right-hand positions as viewed in Figure 3,in which position the switch 42 renders the radio circuit operative as areceiving set.

When the operator desires to transmit messages, he merely depresses theterminal portion 46 of link 45 with the thumb of the hand which gripsthe handle portion I2 thereby shifting the control arm 43 and switch 42to a position energizing the radio circuit as a transmitting set. Suchoperation of the terminal 46 may be performed without any shift of theoperators hand on the handle portion I2 and should be performed withoutreleasing the pressure on leaf spring 30 which energizes the circuit asa whole.

There is provided, in accordance with the preferred form of the presentinvention, an extensible antenna similar in construction to theconventional coiled steel rule of the type in which the steel tape has atransverse arch in order to make it self-sustaining and relatively rigidwhen extended. This antenna assembly is mounted within a cylindricalcasing 50, secured in any desired manner to be insulated from theclosure cap I6 of housing IIL.

In the particular embodiment shown, the housing 50 is provided with aperipheral flange I which is riveted to the closure cap I6 by suitablerivets 52 with an intermediate layer of insulation 53 between the angeand the closure.

cap. A suitable sleeve 54 of insulating material also surrounds theshank of each rivet.

Journalled within the casing 50 on a central hollow shaft 55 is arotatable drum 56 upon which is wound a spring steel tape 51 having aninitial transverse arch so that it will remain relatively straight andrigid when extended even though supported at only one end. 'Ihe drum 56preferably contains a spiral spring 58 adapted to wind up and retractthe tape 51. In order to hold the drum 56 against rotation when the tape51- is extended, there is provided a clutch bar 59 which extends throughslots in hollow shaft 55 and is normally forced against an end wall ofthe drum 56 by means of a helical spring 60, and is adapted to engageone or more lugs 6I on the housing wall to prevent rotation of the drum.A button 62, secured to the bar 59 at the center thereof, projects fromthe casing 50 at its center and is adapted on depression to release theclutch bar against the force of spring 60 and enable the spring 58 towind up the tape 51.

The hollow shaft 55 is insulated from the closure cap I6 but projectsthrough a suitable opening therein and is held against withdrawal bymeans of a nut 63. A suitable terminal 64 is provided at the inner endof the tubular shaft 55 in order that an electrical connection can bemade between the antenna and the circuit of the radio set. The circuitto the antenna tape 51 runs from the shaft 55 through the spring 58which is fixed at its inner end to shaft 55 and at its outer end to drum56. The tape in turn is fixed at its inner end to the drum to completethe circuit.

In the alternative form of invention shown in Figure 4, the antennacomprises a straight wire 51 secured at its ends by any suitable meanssuch as nuts 1I to a pair of insulators 12 and 13 secured, respectively,to the closure caps I3 and I6 on housing lil and II. The insulatorsupport 13 is provided with a terminal at the inner side of the closurecap I6 in the usual manner in order that the antenna may be electricallyconnected to the circuit of the radio set. The unit illustrated inFigure 4 is otherwise similar to that illustrated in the remainingngures of the drawings.

It will be noted that both types of antenna illustrated and describedherein extend in substantial parallelism to the casing of the unit whichcomprises the ground for the electrical circuit of the radio set.

The electrical circuit of the radio transmitter and receiver may be ofany known type, preferably one adapted to be operated both as atransmitting and receiving apparatus, provided, of course, that thecircuit must be of simplified form in order that all the elementsthereof may be enclosed in the relatively small casing contemplated bythe present invention.

The major` elements of the circuit are preferably mounted in the casingin the manner best illustrated in Figure 2 wherein, as previouslymentioned, the B batteries 31 and 38, which are preferably small,cylindrical dry cells, are located within the handle portion I2 of thecasing. The A batteries 15 and 16, which are preferably 45 volt drycells, along with the microphone transformer 18, may conveniently beplaced within the housing I0. The size of housing I0 is preferably suchthat these last mentioned three elements snugly fit the same so that noparticular fastening means is necessary to hold them in position.If'necessary, suitable packing means (not shown) may be utilized toprevent any relative movement of the batteries and transformer locatedin the housing I0.

It has been found convenient to locate all of the remaining elements ofthe radio transmitting and receiving apparatus within the casing and forthis purpose there is preferably provided a central transverse partition88 upon which is supported an amplier tube 8| by means of a bracket 82.The oscillator tube 83 which is mounted upon a supporting plate 84 issecured to the opposite side of the partition 80 by means of a pluralityof studs 85. A modulation transformer 86 is likewise secured to thepartition 80 at the same side thereof as the amplier 8|. The remainingelements of the circuit, including condensors, reactances, andresistors, are preferably not secured in place within the casing but aremerely held in position by the connecting wiring of the circuitillustrated diagrammatically in Figure 5. This wiring for the sake ofclarity is omitted in Figure 2, but the position of the various otherelements of the circuit is indicated diagrammatically in Figure 2 by theuse of reference numerals hereafter noted in the description of theelectrical circuit for the apparatus.

Referring particularly to Fig. the illustrated system will be recognizedas a conventional one which may be selectively adjusted to eitherreceive or transmit signals The previously mentioned microphone |9 iscoupled through the microphone transformer '|8, to the control grid ofthe amplier 8|, the output circuit whereof is coupled, through themodulation transformer l, to the grid circuit of the oscillator 83, theout-- put circuit whereof is conventionally coupled to the antenna 51.In addition to the above mentioned elements, ferred to, the circuit alsoincludes the usual radio frequency choke coils 98 and 9|, a usualso-called tank coil 92, `tuning condensers 93, 94, 95, 98 and 91, andresistors 98, 99 and |89. The previously mentioned receiver 20 isnormally coupled to the amplier 8l by means of the blade 422 of thecontrol switch 42, the other blades 4| and 423 whereof normally occupythe illustrated full line positions. As previously described all ofthese blades may be simultaneously turned to the dotted line positionsto adjust the apparatus for transmitting purposes. The lament switch 34normally occupies the illustrated open position in which position theapparatus is non-operative.

It will be understood that by closing the switch 34 in the previouslydescribed manner, the filament circuits of the oscillator 83 and theamplier 8| are completed and provided switch 42 is in the illustratedfull line position the apparatus will function as a receiver duringwhich operation signals received by the antenna 5`|are detectedby theelement 83, amplied by the amplifier 8| and applied to the receiver 28.

With switch 34 closed and switch 34 in the dotted line position, thereceiver 20 is disconnected, and signals applied to the microphone |9are amplified by the amplifier 8|, and these amplied signals are appliedto the grid circuit of the` oscillator through the modulationtransformer Although only several specific embodiments of the inventionhave been described in detail, it will be appreciated that various othermodifications in the form and arrangement of the parts may be madeWithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

which have previously been re What is claimed is:

1. A portable radio telephone receiving and sending unit comprising acasing, a microphone and a receiver supported by said casing and spacedand angularly positioned to be placed in simultaneous juxtaposition tothe mouth and ear respectively of the operator, said casing having ahandle portion by which thecasing may be supported by one hand of theoperator with the microphone and receiver in juxtaposed position, and acomplete radio transmitting and receiving apparatus located within thecasing and operatively connected to said microphone and receiver.

2. A portable radio telephone receiving and sending unit comprising acasing, a microphone and a receiver supported by said casing and spacedand arranged to be placed in simultaneous juxtaposition to the mouth andear respectively kof the operator, said casin'g having a handle portionby which the casing may be supported by one hand of the operator, radioapparatus within said casing adapted to operate alternatively totransmit and receive radio telephone signals and operatively connectedto said microphone and receiver, a switch for energizing said apparatus,and a device for selectively causing said apparat-us to operate totransmit or receive signals, said switch havingan operating elementmounted on said handle and adapted to be operated to energize saidapparatus by an increase in the pressure of said one hand of theoperator on said handle and said device including an operating elementmovable between two positions and located on said casing in position tobe operated by the thumb on said one hand while said hand is in normalengagement with the handle.

3. A portable radio telephone receiving and sending unit comprising acasing, a microphone and a receiver supported by said casing and spacedand angularly positioned to be placed in simultaneous juxtaposition tothe mouth and ear respectively of the operator, said casing having ahandle portion'by which the casing may be supported by one hand of theoperator with said microphone and receiver in said juxtaposed position,a complete radio transmitting and receiving apparatus located within thecasing and operatively connected to said microphone and receiver, and anantenna for said apparatus extending from and supported by said casing.

4. A portable radio telephone receiving and sending unit comprisingv acasing, a microphone anda receiver supported by said casing and spacedand angularly positioned to be placed in simultaneous juxtaposition tothe mouth and ear respectively of the operator, said casing having ahandle portion by which the casing may be supported by one hand of theoperator with said microphone and receiver in said juxtaposed position,a complete radio apparatus within said casing adapted to operatealternatively to transmit and receive radio telephone signals andoperatively connected to said microphone and receiver, a device forselectively causing said apparatus to operate to transmit or receivesignals, and an antenna for said apparatus supported by said casing.

Y 5..A portable radio telephone receiving and sending unit comprising acasing, a microphone and a receiver supported by said casing and spacedand arranged to be placed in simultaneous juxtaposition to the mouth andear respectively of the operator, said casing having a handle portion bywhich the casing may be supported by one hand of the operator, radioapparatus within said casing adapted to operate alternatively totransmit and receive radio telephone signals and operatively connectedto said microphone and receiver, a switch for energizing said apparatus,a device for selectively causing said apparatus to operate to transmitor receive signals, said switch having an operating element mounted onsaid handle and adaptedgto be operated to energize said apparatus by anincrease in the pressure of said one hand. of the operator on saidhandle and said device including an operating element movable betweentwo positions and located on said casing in position to be operated bythe thumb on said one hand while said hand is in normal engagement withthe handle, and an antenna for said apparatus insulated from andsupported by said casing.

6. A self-contained portable radio telephone sending and receiving 'unitincluding a casing consisting of a pair of housings connected by ahandle adapted to be grasped by a hand of the operator to support theentire casing thereby, a microphone in one of said housings and areceiver in the other, said microphone and receiver being so spaced andpositioned that they may be located simultaneously in juxtaposition tothe mouth and ear respectively of the operator when the operatorsupports the casing by said handle, and a complete radio transmittingand receiving apparatus located within said casing and operativelyconnected with said microphone and receiver.

rI. A portable radio telephone sending and receiving unit including acasing consisting of a pair of housings connected by a handle adapted tobe grasped by a hand of the operator to support the entire casingthereby, a microphone in one of said housings and a receiver in theother, said microphone and receiver being so spaced that they may belocated simultaneously in juxtaposition to the mouth and earrespectively of the operator when the operator supports the casing bysaid handle, radio apparatus within said casing adaptedl to operatealternatively to transmit and receive radio telephone signals andoperatively connected to said microphone and receiver, a switch `forenergizing said apparatus, and a device for selectively causing saidapparatus to operate to transmit or receive signals.

8. A portable radio telephone sending and receiving unit including acasing consisting of a pair of housings connected by a handle adapted tobe grasped by a hand of the operator to support the entire casingthereby, a microphone in one of said housings and a receiver in theother, said microphone and receiver being so spaced that they may belocated simultaneously in juxtaposition to the mouth and earrespectively of the operator when the operator supports the casing bysaid handle, radio. apparatus within said casing adapted to operatealternatively to transmit and receive radio telephone signals andoperatively connected to said microphone and receiver, a switch forenergizing said apparatus, and a device for selectively causing saidapparatus to operate to transmit or receive signals, said switch havingan operating element mounted on said handle and adapted to be operatedto energize said apparatus by an increase in the pressure of said onehand of the operator on said handle and said device including anoperating element movable between two positions and located on saidcasing in position to be operated by the thumb on said one hand whilesaid hand is in normal engagement with the handle.

9. A portable radio telephone sending and receiving unit including acasing consisting of a pair of housings connected by a tubular handle ladapted to be grasped by a hand of the operator to support the entirecasing thereby, and a microphone in one of said housings and a receiverin the other, said microphone and receiver being so spaced that they maybe located simultaneously in juxtaposition to the mouth and earrespectively of the operator when the operator supports the casing bysaid tubular handle, and radio sending and receiving apparatus locatedin said casing, said radio apparatus including A batteries located insaid tubular handle.

l0. A portable radio telephone sending and receiving unit including acasing consisting of a pair of housings connected by a tubular handleadapted to be grasped by a hand of the operator to support the entirecasing thereby, a microphone in one of said housings and a receiver inthe other, said microphone and receiver being so spaced that they may belocated simultaneously in juxtaposition to the mouth and earrespectively of the operator when the operator supports the casing bysaid tubular handle, and radio sending and receiving apparatus locatedin said casing, said radio apparatus including A batteries located insaid tubular handle, and B batteries located in the housing containingthe microphone.

CLETUS J. COLLOM.

DISCLAIMER 2,276,933.-0Zetas J. Oollom, Detroit, Mich. RADIO APPARATUS.Patent dated March 17, 1942. Disclaimer led December 11, 1944, by theinventor. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9of said patent.v

[Oficial Gazette January 16, 1945.1

